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This listing contains all the analytical materials posted on the Russia Matters website. These include: RM Exclusives, commissioned by Russia Matters exclusively for this website; Recommended Reads, deemed particularly noteworthy by our editorial team; Partner Posts, originally published by our partners elsewhere; and Future Policy Leaders, pieces by promising young scholars and policy thinkers. Content can be filtered by genre and subject-specific criteria and is updated often. Gradually we will be adding older Recommended Reads and Partner Posts dating back as far as 2011.

2020 US Presidential Candidates on Russia: What Have They Said So Far?

Daniel ShapiroMay 23, 2019
RM Exclusives

Most candidates overwhelmingly agree that while Russia is a key adversary of the U.S., the two countries should work to preserve bilateral arms control treaties like New START and the INF Treaty.

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research paper

Lessons for Leaders: What Afghanistan Taught Russian and Soviet Strategists

Simon SaradzhyanFebruary 28, 2019
RM Exclusives

Moscow’s military intervention in Afghanistan lasted nearly a decade (1979-1989). It cost the USSR dearly in blood, treasure and power, but imparted lessons as well. Can some of these prove useful to the U.S. today?

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research paper

Jihadists from Ex-Soviet Central Asia: Where Are They? Why Did They Radicalize? What Next?

Three authors draw on field work and other research to assess the motives, prospects and threats linked to Central Asian jihadists, including the thousands who joined Islamic State and other violent extremists in the Middle East.

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article

Five Nations Bicker Over Whether the Caspian Is Lake or Sea

Rahim RahimovSeptember 05, 2018
Partner Posts

While the countries' leaders hailed the summit as a historic success, experts noted that the convention failed to resolve any disputes and instead merely formalized the existing status quo.

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Competing Views on Russia

Trump on Russia: In His Own Words

RM StaffJuly 13, 2018
RM Exclusives

From election interference and the war in Syria to praise for Putin and weaponized cold snaps—read over two years' worth of the president’s comments on Russia.

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article

Can Moscow Mediate Between Israel and Iran in Syria?

Mark N. KatzMay 18, 2018
RM Exclusives

As tensions between Iran and Israel rise to new heights, Russia finds itself in a tricky position—trying to balance between two states that are friendly with Moscow but mortal enemies to each other.

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survey

Survey: What Next for the Iran Deal and What Will It Mean for US-Russian Relations?

RM ExpertsMay 10, 2018
RM Exclusives

Eight experts on nuclear nonproliferation, security and the Middle East weigh in on the implications of President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the JCPOA.

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article

Who Can Prevent a War Between Israel and Iran? Russia

Joost HiltermannMay 03, 2018
Recommended Reads

Russia is uniquely suited to mediating between Israel and Iran, but the West may not support its efforts.

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article

Russian-Saudi Rapprochement? Iran and Economic Strain Will Make It Tough

Mark N. KatzSeptember 28, 2017
RM Exclusives

Ties between Moscow and Riyadh remain fragile. Saudi Arabia’s main concern is Iran, while Russia wants both investment and sway in the Middle East. Balancing their geopolitical and economic interests will not be easy.

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podcast

From the Tsardom of Muscovy to Nuclear Cooperation: Podcasts on Russia

Monterey Summer Symposium on RussiaJune 19, 2017
Partner Posts

Throughout the summer, the Monterey Summer Symposium on Russia will host expert lectures and seminars on a variety of topics ranging from history and art to diplomacy and nonproliferation. As the symposium progresses, these lectures will be made available as podcasts.

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explainer

25 Years of Nuclear Security Cooperation by the US, Russia and Other Newly Independent States: A Timeline

At a time when the U.S. and the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union still saw each other as mortal enemies, they found the courage, creativity and capacity for trust to work together in the name of preventing nuclear catastrophe.